Last night I had a "remember your still a newbie" moment...

Was out around 9:45 - 10pm, looking for a spot to pull over and take some sunset photos of my bike...so I pull onto a dirt road to look for a spot against some nice rolling canola fields, and there it was...so I pulled over and needed to turn around to part against the field...

No problem right?  A little gas, let out the clutch, tire spin, turn the bars and...voila...180 achieved...that was the thinking, and it still sounds pretty good...

(I'm sure you can see this coming...)

The reality is...a little gas, let out the clutch, tire spin, turn the bars and instantaneous 270 deg turn.  A little panic and grabbed a had full of front brake (remember the gravel?)...start to think, I got this, and remember the clutch...pull in the clutch, tire stops spinning and grabs...wouldn't you know it, I'm "ejected" from the bike at 2kph...man what a moron...

The last time I tried that was about 25yrs ago on a 100 or 125cc dirt bike, now on a 500cc street bike...well not the most sound thinking involved..lol  Oh well, lesson learned...no dirt bike stunts with street bike and street bike tires...


Here is a pic of the gravel marks...notice the near perfect 270 deg turn...oops....



Atleast there was no damage done (a couple of scratches on the engine case) and I wasn't hurt, just a scrape on the shin.

I got a nice sunset pic though...

Hey, speaking of Homer...I served up his favorite food and did a donut...lol   

I know, boo...

So, does anyone come on here?  Or is this a dying forum?  I was hoping that there were more Albertans on here...maybe get to know some and go for a ride...

Well the forums is newer and has not quite hit a critical mass of poster to have posters on at all times. the only solution is to post more as the site attracts new people. So in time posts will be more common.

And just so you don't feel alone for dropping your bike...a little story.

I rode to my GF's condo and stayed the night. It snowed overnight and I'm sure by now you know where this is heading.

Well My bike was newer and did not want to leave it in the parking lot of her condo. So my brilliant plan was to ride it to a busier rode that may be clear and then ride home in the cleared wheel ruts.

Well the roads where covered in compacted snow covered by ice. So much that you could barely stand on the road and could see your reflection in it.


So I pull out of the parking lot and head down the road, a few meters down I fall.  I slide a bit and because I was in full gear it was actually kind of fun. So no injuries other than my pride. I get up and think, well that was silly but i think i figured out why a fell so i should be good now.
Well a few houses latter I fall again, no big deal. A few houses latter I fall again...okay this is just silly but I’m almost to a busier street.

I should also mention the my GF was following in a car just to make sure I did okay.

Well I pick up my bike again (really hard when it's so slippery you can barely stand).
I make it to the slightly busier rode and it is no better....well NP at the end of that there is an even busier rode. SO I cruise down the road fairly well. Hey I'm getting the hang of this...no, no I’m not. I fall again. and I fall again right before reaching 30th. This is the busy road I was planning on taking home...there is no cleared paths and it is no better.  So i ride it for a block and pull into the next side street. I park my bike next to a playground and get in the GF's car.

I forget how many times I actually fell but it was quite a few. I escaped injury due to full gear and fairly low speeds. The dmg to the bike consisted of a scratched gear case and scratched fairings on both sides. One side the faring has a crack in it. The break pedal is slightly bent now.

The next day I get a call from the RCMP…..Uh oh…

Turns out they saw my bike and thought it was stolen because who else rides a bike in the snow and leaves it parked at a playground?

Over all was an interesting day.

The GF in question eventually took pity on me and married me. She is still not a fan of the motorcycle and I can’t figure out why….

I really did learn a lot though from crashing so often.

When you fall you really do slide a long ways, the gear really really helps and will protect you. All gear all the time.

Never ever ever ever grab the front break in a corner or panic situation…it is amazing how fast that will put you down. I heard that from riding instructors but feeling it is entirely different.

It is much easier to speed up than slow down. I never got going fast but on straight patches I would go okay but for a 90deg corner I had to nearly stop. Slowing down was very hard and most of my falls where a result of attempting to slow down. Accelerate out of a corner not go in to fast and try to slow down in one.

Putting your feet down does nothing. At first I started with my feet dragging for stability but this did not help as it did not prevent the bike going down at all. I did far better with my legs pressed tight against the tank.

Was fun and glad I did it but was fairly stupid of me.